Vampire Destiny Trilogy. Darren Shan

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      “We’d almost finished packing before the glaring flaw hit us,” Debbie laughed. “We didn’t know where Vampire Mountain was!”

      That’s when Alice recalled the piece of paper Evanna had given her. Returning to her apartment, where she’d stored it, she unfolded it and discovered directions to where the Cirque Du Freak was currently playing—here by the waterfall.

      “But Evanna gave you that paper months ago!” I exclaimed. “How did she know where the Cirque would be?”

      Alice shrugged. “I’ve tried not to think about that one. I’m just about OK with the notion of vampires, but witches who can foresee the future … that’s a step too far. I prefer to believe she checked with the guy who runs this place before she met us.”

      “Though that doesn’t explain how she knew when we’d read the message,” Debbie added with a wink.

      “I suppose this means we’re meant to … guide you to Vampire Mountain,” Harkat mused.

      “Looks like it,” Alice said. “Unless you’ve other plans?”

      Harkat looked at me. I’d made it very clear when Mr Crepsley died that I didn’t want anything to do with vampires for a while. This call was mine.

      “I’m not keen on going back,” I sighed. “It’s still too soon. But for something this important, I guess I don’t have much of a choice. As well as showing you the way, maybe I can act as the middle man between you and the Generals.”

      “We were thinking along those lines,” Debbie smiled, leaning over to squeeze my hands. “We’re not sure what the vampires will think of two human women turning up with an offer to build an army to help them. We know little of their ways or customs. We need someone to fill us in.”

      “I’m not sure the Princes will … accept your proposal,” Harkat said. “Vampires have always fought their … own battles. I think they’ll want to do the same now, even … if the odds are stacked against them.”

      “If they do, we’ll fight the vampets without them,” Alice snorted. “But they’d be fools to disregard us, and from what I’ve seen, vampires aren’t foolish.”

      “It makes sense,” I said. “Send humans to fight the vampets and leave the clan free to focus on the vampaneze.”

      “Since when did vampires do things … because they made sense?” Harkat chuckled. “But it’s worth a try. I’ll come with you.”

      “Oh no you won’t,” someone chortled behind us. Turning, startled, we saw that we’d been joined in the van by a’ third, uninvited guest, a short man with a savage leer. He was instantly recognizable and immediately unwelcome—Mr Tiny!

       CHAPTER FOUR

      THE CREATOR of the Little People was dressed in his customary yellow suit and green Wellington boots. He eyed us though thick glasses and twirled a heart-shaped watch between the fingers of his left hand. He was small and pudgy, with pure white hair and a cruel, mocking smile.

      “Hello boys,” he greeted Harkat and me. “And hello! beautiful ladies.” He winked rakishly at Debbie and Alice. Debbie smiled, but the ex-Chief Inspector was wary. Mr Tiny took a seat and removed a boot to empty dirt out of it. I saw the strange, six webbed toes I’d glimpsed once before. “I see you survived your run-in with Master Leonard,” he drawled, putting the boot back on.

      “No thanks to you,” I sniffed angrily. “You knew Steve was the Lord of the Vampaneze. You could have told us.”

      “And spoilt the surprise?” Mr Tiny laughed. “I wouldn’t have missed that fatal confrontation in the Cavern of Retribution for anything. I haven’t enjoyed myself so much in years. The tension was unbearable, even though I guessed the outcome.”

      “You weren’t in the cavern,” I challenged him. “And you didn’t guess the outcome—you knew how it would end!”

      Mr Tiny yawned insolently. “I might not have been there physically,” he said, “but I was there in spirit. As for knowing the final outcome—I didn’t. I suspected Larten would fail, but I wasn’t sure. He could have won.

      “Anyhow,” he said, clapping sharply. “That’s in the past. We’ve other fish to fry.” Looking at Harkat, he spun his watch so that it caught the light shining in the window of the van and reflected it into Harkat’s round green eyes. “Been sleeping well, Master Mulds?”

      Harkat stared straight back at his master and said blankly, “You know only too damn … well that I haven’t.”

      Mr Tiny tucked his watch away without taking his eyes off Harkat. “Time to find out who you used to be,” he murmured. Harkat stiffened.

      “Why now?” I asked.

      “His nightmares have intensified. He must come with me and search for his true identity, or say, go mad—and perish.”

      “Why can’t you just tell him?” I prodded.

      “Doesn’t work that way,” Mr Tiny said.

      “Will I be gone long?” Harkat asked quietly.

      “Oh yes,” came the answer. “For ever, if things don’t go well. It’s not a case of simply finding out who you were and returning. The road is long and dangerous, and even if you struggle along to the end, there’s no guarantee you’ll make it back. But it’s a road you must tread—unless you’d rather go loopy and die.” Mr Tiny let out a fake sigh. “Poor Harkat—trapped between the devil and the deep blue sea.”

      “You’re all heart,” Harkat grumbled, then faced me with a look of disgust. “Looks like this is where … we part company.”

      “I could come with you –” I began, but he cut me short with a wave of a rough grey hand.

      “Forget it,” he said. “You have to lead Debbie and … Alice to Vampire Mountain. Not just to guide them, but to … protect them—it’s a hard trek.”

      “We could wait until you returned,” Debbie said.

      “No,” Harkat sighed. “There’s no telling how long … I’ll be gone.”

      I gazed helplessly at Harkat. He was my best friend, and I hated the thought of leaving him. But I loved Debbie and didn’t want to abandon her.

      “Actually,” Mr Tiny purred, stroking the top of his heart-shaped watch, “I think young Shan should accompany you—assuming you value your life.”

      “What do you mean?” Harkat barked sharply.

      Mr Tiny studied his fingernails and spoke with a deceptively СКАЧАТЬ